Fence-post.



No. 771,042. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

e. OALKINS.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-20, 1904.

NO MODEL. I

wzZ'ze (S1566, Z ZVZZJ OI 601,1 6 62 Zi'z'rza Patented September 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE CALKINS, OF OSCEOLA, MISSOURI.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 771,042, dated September 2'7, 1904.

Application filed February 20, 1904. Serial No. 194,490. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE (JALKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Osceola, in the county of St. Clair and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fence-posts, and especially to that class of fence-posts wherein is employed an indestructible artificial molded base adapted to be buried in the earth and provided with means for supporting and maintaining the post out of contact with the earth to prevent it from rotting; and my invention has for its object to provide the molded base with means for preventing it from being displaced by frost and also to effect economy in its construction.

It also has for its object to provide improved means for connecting the post to the base; and it has for a further object to provide improved means for excluding moisture and the like from the interior of the post.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved post. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the base and the coupling-pin inserted therein, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the coupling-pin removed from the base.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a molded artificial base, preferably formed of cement and gravel or broken stone, said base being molded in a suitable mold while the composition is in a plastic state. The mold is provided with suitable means for forming recesses or flutes in the exterior side of the base, the purpose of said recesses being twofold. First, when the base is buried in the ground and the earth is compacted about it the earth enters said recesses, and the base is in this manner anchored in the ground, so that it is prevented from being raised by frost.

A second purpose of said recesses is to elfectan economy in the use of the material employed in making the base. During the operation of molding the base a coupling-pin 3 is embedded in the base. Said coupling-pin is preferably formed of wood and, as shown, tapers from its center toward each end, the lower end of the pin being provided with a head or enlargement 4, whereby the pin is firmly held in the base when the cement material has become set and hardened. As shown, the upper end of the base is rounded, as at 5, and the upper tapered portion of the pin projects vertically above said rounded end. The numeral 6 indicates a wooden post, having formed in its lower end a tapered socket 7, which fits tightly down over the upper tapered end of the pin. The lower end of the post surrounding said socket is countersunk, as at 8, to fit over the rounded portion 5 of the post and effectually excludes moisture.

Before inserting the pin in the base it is filled or saturated with linseed-oil to prevent it from decaying, and before fitting the post onto the pin a coating of any good lead-paint is applied to the pin, and it may also be applied to the socket formed in the post, if so desired. The paint when the post is driven down onto the pin oozes out between the curved upper ends of the base and the countersunk lower end of the post, making an air and water tight joint between the post and space.

The base constructed in the manner described is practically indestructible, and tho coupling-pin being protected by the base and post will also last an almost indefinite period of time. The posts will also resist the effects of decay for a long time, owing to the fact that they are supported clear of and out of contact with the ground, and when they shall have become unsuitable for further use, owing to the destructive effects of the weather, they may be readily removed from the bases and replaced by new posts without disturbing the bases or the coupling-pins.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Ina fence-post, a molded concrete base having embedded therein an upwardly-extending wooden coupling-pin, said couplingpin being tapered from its center to its opposite ends.

2. In a fence-post, a molded concrete base, a wooden coupling-pin embedded in the upper portion of the base and projecting beyond the upper end of the latter, said upper end of the base being rounded, and a wooden fence-post provided in its lower end with a tapered socket and countersink at its lower end about said socket, said fence-post being driven down over the pin, and a paint-filler being applied between the upper end of the base and the lower end of the post, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- HQSSGS.

GEORGE CALKINS. Witnesses:

LESLIE RODGERS, W. (J. LUoAs. 

